Pascack Valley went on the road and defeated River Dell 27-20 on Friday night. The win moves the team to 2-5 on the season and will go a long way in helping the Panthers get into the playoffs. 

This win is the Panthers’ first over the Hawks since 2019, returning the “Rumble For the Rail” Trophy to Pascack Valley.

“It was a big win, no doubt about it,” Coach Len Cusumano said. “[The team knows] it was very meaningful.”

Early in the fourth quarter, PV Sr. WR Danny Kastanis caught what would end up being the game-winning touchdown for Valley and finished the game with five receptions for 64 receiving yards and one touchdown.

After Kastanis’s touchdown, the PV defense forced a punt that gave the Panthers possession in their opponent’s territory; however, So. Kicker Evan Starr missed a 30-yard FG that would’ve put his team up by two scores.

Valley’s defense stepped up again on fourth down during River Dell’s last drive, as Kastanis swatted away the Hawks’ Sr. QB Jake Sconza’s pass.

“[Kastanis has] been executing very well the entire year. He’s got outstanding speed, he has an aggressive attitude, he’s very physical at the point of attack, and the acceleration was outstanding. He’s truly a weapon with the football,” Cusumano said.

Fellow Valley Sr. WR Conor Higgins finished with four receptions, 42 receiving yards, and a 25-yard touchdown thrown by Sr. QB/S Jake Crawbuck that put Valley up 14-13 during the second quarter.

Crawbuck impacted the game with 173 total yards, three passing touchdowns, and one interception. On the defensive side, he helped Valley shut out the Hawks in the second half.

Two defensive fumbles, one forced by Jr. DB Jake Merlino and Sr. DE Brandon Flanagan and one forced by So. DE Colin Krause, helped Valley win the turnover battle and, ultimately, the game. 

Additionally, So. RB Kevin Regula and Sr. FB  Quinn Flanagan contributed touchdowns to the Panthers’ scoreline. Regula’s one-yard rushing touchdown capped off the game’s initial drive, while Flanagan’s 13-yard receiving TD put Valley up 20-13 in the second quarter.

Pascack Valley will travel to Bergenfield next Saturday at 1 p.m. for its regular season finale. A win would likely secure a playoff spot for the Panthers.